Dhaka:The government is prioritizing the preparation of accurate lists of those martyred during the 1971 Liberation War and genuine freedom fighters, according to Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, the minister emphasized the importance of these lists for historical accuracy and recognition.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Ahmed Azam Khan stated that the preparation of lists of Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and others who opposed the Liberation War would be addressed at a later stage. His remarks were in response to a question from treasury bench member Ekramul Bari Tipu during a parliamentary session.
The minister also revealed that there are currently 206,536 freedom fighters receiving government allowances. In response to allegations, the government has canceled the gazette notifications of 6,476 individuals previously listed as freedom fighters, following scrutiny by the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JAMUKA) or the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. Investigations are conducted whenever allegations surface, and if found not genuine, the person's gazette notification is canceled.
In response to a query about ensuring accuracy in the freedom fighters' list, Ahmed Azam mentioned that several round-table discussions have been held with civil society members and experts. Further meetings are planned to establish effective methods for compiling accurate, research-based lists.
The government has also initiated a project proposal to provide housing for financially insolvent freedom fighters, as stated by the minister in response to Jamaat lawmaker Md Rafiqul Islam Khan. If approved by the Planning Commission, the project could benefit an additional 25,000 freedom fighters and their families, addressing previous issues related to land ownership complications.